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• Wednesday, April 16, 2008 12:09 AM

  More Bill, bypass etc

  I remember reading that as well. I have no idea as to the veracity of mood changes after bypasses. This is the internet after all. I kinda just filed it under the kooky but could be true file.

  I have to say that throughout most of the campaign Bill Clinton has seemed pretty much tone-deaf.

  I've been more attributing that to his being 'out of shape' politically. The ex-basketball player and now commentator Charles Barkley always likes to criticize players who think they are elite enough to skip training and just turn it on in the playoffs. Bill has been really busy and I don't think really focused on retail politics. I don't fault him for it, but I do think it's affected his timing. He also has to play the straight man now, a different role. There's also Mark Penn to consider. I think Penn went stale. I can't see the younger Bill Clinton misjudging the mood of the electorate for so long. Maybe I'm smoking too much Clintonian mythology.

  However, it seems somehow unjust to judge Bill by a criterion that we would not apply to any other potential first spouse.

  On one hand I agree with you. On the other, he's the only ex-president. I don't think we can ignore that. He has access, stature, and connections far beyond the two potential first ladies, even the beer heiress.

  Personally, I think it's a helluva thing to be an ex-president. We make someone the most powerful person in the world for 4-8 years. Then they have to walk away. It's probably better that way.

  —Uncle Fester Read Uncle Fester's other letters
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